SLJ Battle of the Books

So I had heard of this last week, but wasn't clear as to what it was all about. This blog post by SLJ announces the books and the judges. Sixteen of the top books published for kids and teens in 2008 are battling it out to determine which book is the ultimate champion. The judges are well-known children and teen authors who each create their own criteria.

If you want to follow along or read the books to see how they would match up to you, here is the list.

Round 1 (Week of April 13th)
Match 1: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves vs Ways to Live Forever

Match 2: The Graveyard Book vs The Trouble Begins at 8

Match 3: Chains vs Washington at Valley Forge

Match 4: Here Lies Arthur vs Tender Morsels

Match 5: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks vs We Are the Ship

Match 6: The Hunger Games vs The Porcupine Year

Match 7: Graceling vs The Underneath

Match 8: The Lincolns vs Nation

Project Book Babe Event

Okay so I just found out about this cool author event being held in Tempe on April 4th. And how did I find out about it? A teen librarian in Massachusetts had a link on her blog about it. I'm assuming the event is aimed at the fans of the dozen or so authors instead of the librarians out there. Here's the link to their website: http://projectbookbabe.com/

This 3 hour event (2-5 p.m.) costs from $25-$100 and proceeds help Faith Hochhalter (AKA Book Babe) fight breast cancer. So not only do you get a seat to hear these great authors speak, a chance to win raffles and bid on auctions, and at least one signed book, you get to support a great cause.

I'd totally be going to this if I wasn't most likely having a newborn to deal with then! So, check out the website and see if any of these authors are your cup of tea (by the way, there are some big names here--including Stephenie Meyer and Shannon Hale).